Bball coach has gone on record as saying not having a brand new arena is not an excuse for lack of success.
Rutgers Approves Construction of Athletic Practice Facility. Cost $115M?
- Thread starter Leonard23
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I'd bet this came from a union nurse at one of the RWJ hospitals. I used to work at a hospital with RNs in a union. Every time we built or upgraded any physical plant we'd here the refrain "With that kind of money who could have given all us nurses big raises!" Didn't matter how many times you explained it's using borrowed money against future revenue, but I can't take a loan to make payroll they wouldn't, or couldn't, get it. You know, sort of like our faculty union agitators at RU.
Welcome to NJ?
Just taking a quick look at Zillow... Lexington, KY, 5 bed, 4 bath, 4000 sq ft, 6.5 acres.... asking $400K. Anything that size in New Brunswick would be $1M+, easy.
That does not necessarily reflect differences in building cost from one area to another.
Doing a little math here, we have $44M from the $26M bond & $18M RWJBarnabas naming rights, so the $71M balance will be paid from the B1G Build Fund, leaving $29M available from the fund, once raised. I'm guessing it'll cost more than $29M for the soccer/lax facility & Hale Center upgrades, so we'll be borrowing again for those, which is fine. Just get them done well.
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No, it doesn't - but money goes a lot further in Lexington, KY than it does in Piscataway, NJ.
New practice facilities. The gameday facility for basketball is atrocious and harms recruiting.
We also have much higher salaries than Kentucky alumni.
The issue is that a successful
Basketball program is more important to Kentucky alumni than it is to Rutgers Alumni. If a good number of Rutgers alumni wanted a successful bb program and were willing to support to make that happen, we'd have a successful basketball program.
Aside from the concourse, which the players aren't using, and the outside appearance of the RAC, there is nothing wrong with it in the eyes of recruits.
Kentucky doesn't have the union bosses to pay off and the vinny boom batts no show jobs.
Keeping costs down is much easier to do in other states. Can't imagine what a flow chart to build in Jersey looks like.
Keeping costs down is much easier to do in other states. Can't imagine what a flow chart to build in Jersey looks like.
Clueless 1&2
Tell that to Duke doesn't seem to bother them. Just one dumb statenet after the next
I'm convinced he's a troll in RU fan handle's clothing.
I'm convinced that you don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about. Please stop trying to divert the thread from its subject matter with personal attacks. I want a new RAC because it's good for the university and will not apologize for holding that view.
You've gotten in fights with not only me, but several other long term posters here. I've taken down trolls bigger and badder than you. Tick tock, you will be banned soon enough.
The only sport played at Nebraska's new arena is basketball. It was designed so the noise goes to the center. There are no plans for any other sport to use it and there is no need for other sports to use it. Designed and built for hoops.
Nebraska and Maryland's newer arenas are what big-time athletics is all about. THAT is how you show you're serious about competing in the Big Ten, folks.
They're closer to Mexico and a lot more illegal immigrants in Texas but the unions in NJ is a big problem unless you work for one.
Go ahead and laugh. You don't know who I know on this board, who I'm friends with or what mods I've tailgated with. Trust me...I'm far more popular on this board than you and you know it, so fall in line or you'll be gone.
A connected friend of mine told me the $115 million total price tag is apparently to fund both the Multi Sport Facility and the Soccer and Lacrosse building.
This statement makes sense to me because unless they are lining the tile with gold leaf there is no way that RWJ Building cost 115M on it's own to complete. especially considering that a portion of it is unfinished parking garage.
I'm thinking more along the lines of 70M for the RWJ building and $45M for the Soccer and Lacrosse facility.
I know NJ construction is expensive, but let's be realistic here $115M for a 125,000 square feet is $920 a square foot. The National average is about $115/sqft.
Even with NJ inflation and considering the land is already owned the numbers don't add up for just one building.
Think about the new academic building built in New Brunswick at the end of Voorhees. It is 175,000 sq ft at a cost of $115 million which also includes high cost of computer labs and some really high end cutting edge technology in the lecture halls and seminar rooms. Considering that information it is entirely feasible that a 125,000 sq ft Multi Sport facility and a 50,000/75,000 sqft Soccer/lacrosse facility can be built for $115 million.
I can get behind $575 a square foot for 200,000 square feet total between 2 buildings, considering the equipment that will be going into the buildings.
$575 a sq ft is reasonable in NJ for commercial labor construction.
I really hope he is right otherwise Rutgers is really being taken behind the woodshed in union costs.
This statement makes sense to me because unless they are lining the tile with gold leaf there is no way that RWJ Building cost 115M on it's own to complete. especially considering that a portion of it is unfinished parking garage.
I'm thinking more along the lines of 70M for the RWJ building and $45M for the Soccer and Lacrosse facility.
I know NJ construction is expensive, but let's be realistic here $115M for a 125,000 square feet is $920 a square foot. The National average is about $115/sqft.
Even with NJ inflation and considering the land is already owned the numbers don't add up for just one building.
Think about the new academic building built in New Brunswick at the end of Voorhees. It is 175,000 sq ft at a cost of $115 million which also includes high cost of computer labs and some really high end cutting edge technology in the lecture halls and seminar rooms. Considering that information it is entirely feasible that a 125,000 sq ft Multi Sport facility and a 50,000/75,000 sqft Soccer/lacrosse facility can be built for $115 million.
I can get behind $575 a square foot for 200,000 square feet total between 2 buildings, considering the equipment that will be going into the buildings.
$575 a sq ft is reasonable in NJ for commercial labor construction.
I really hope he is right otherwise Rutgers is really being taken behind the woodshed in union costs.
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Here's the thing...if your post was only about rebuilding the RAC, there are many that would agree and many that would say it just needs a refurbish. It sounds like Hobbs will go the route of refurbish/facelift. Well, then, we wouldn't call you out for trolling.
BUT, when you start with anything about that maybe we never should have joined the B1G...well, then if it looks like a troll, it most likely is a troll.
And both have been getting big time conference payouts for a long time and currently getting 4-5 times the amount we are getting.
Is he sure? From the press release it seems like it was just for the basketball facility:
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – The Rutgers University Board of Governors today approved construction of a multisport training and practice facility for Rutgers athletes on Livingston Campus.
The four-story, 125-000-square-foot facility will replace outdated and undersized facilities with new practice rooms and locker rooms, as well as strength-training and conditioning facilities for the men’s and women’s basketball, gymnastics and wrestling programs. It is expected to open July 2019.
http://news.rutgers.edu/news-releas...letic-practice-facility/20170405#.WOe8fkXysdX
Respectfully, my goal isn't to tailgate with the moderators, it's to advocate for what I think is best for the university. Of course I'm glad we're in the Big Ten. At the same time, it's time for us to start acting like a B1G school. The RAC is old, outdated, and harmful to recruiting. It needs to be replaced and I am willing to donate as much money as I can to help make it happen.
90% of Nebraska's facilities are paid by donors and not from conference revenues. The rest is usually bonded out and paid with donations as received.
The RAC is a great basketball venue for sightlines, closeness, noise and crowd. Would hope it could be saved expanded and refurbished. I like being unique and being a place that opposing teams would fear.
Problem with a new arena IMO is that RU will end up getting a cheap, cold, sterile, multi-purpose generic run of the mill arena. New Yankee Stadium, Met Life, Old Meadowlands, Trenton... all of them were/are soul sucking glorified shopping malls and do not inspire greatness. Some of the the new baseball stadiums have worked because they are not cookie cutter and replaced multi-purpose stadiums.
Imagine RU would cut costs and eliminate stuff... the original plan for the RAC...Not extending Rutgers Stadium pitch all the way to both end zones.
So would love a refurbished RAC.
Problem with a new arena IMO is that RU will end up getting a cheap, cold, sterile, multi-purpose generic run of the mill arena. New Yankee Stadium, Met Life, Old Meadowlands, Trenton... all of them were/are soul sucking glorified shopping malls and do not inspire greatness. Some of the the new baseball stadiums have worked because they are not cookie cutter and replaced multi-purpose stadiums.
Imagine RU would cut costs and eliminate stuff... the original plan for the RAC...Not extending Rutgers Stadium pitch all the way to both end zones.
So would love a refurbished RAC.
Two points, they have Home Depot in NJ and Kentucky. Material costs are not a huge issue.
Second, at the end of the day salaries are higher in NJ but is real income higher? All over the country universities do much better raising money than Rutgers does. All from states with lower income levels. I can't believe people just hate Rutgers.
Anyone who says we should've stayed in the AAC over going to the B1G is no RU fan...period.
This is not true. Also, you stated the RAC is hurting recruiting, and now, according to you, it's also an example of a lack of commitment to the Big Ten - let's keep in mind you are making this post in a thread title "Rutgers BOG approves $115M facility yada yada yada. Funded on the heels of the BIG TEN BUILD - our most successful fundraising effort to date.
Many would agreee that the RAC is 1. Old and 2. Outdated (rendundant much) but those two points (are we calling them two separate points) do not equal 3. Harmful to recruiting.
All across sports there are old buildings revered for their tradition, intimate atmosphere, or charm that recruits and specatatord both cherish. Recruits want an ATMOSPHERE from their arena first and foremost - and many SPORTS PROFESSIONALS - not message board posters, have stated the RAC did and can once again realize an atmosphere that impacts games and leaves an impression on the minds.
This last point, which I make omitting the courtesy of stating I mean no disrespect, serves to remind you that as the self-appointed authority and champion of the cause to enhance Rutgers Athletics, that this message board is not to the place to "advocate for what you think is best for the university" to ACTUALLY achieve your "goal" by way of a material result.
But it's nice that you are willing to make a PLEDGE to "donate as much as I can" rather than already contributing to the cause like so many of us here have.
Have a good weekend.
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Please let us know which kids have stated that they don't like THE RAC itself (not the facilities i.e. "lack of a practice facility..") AND that it cost us their commitment. I'd LOVE to see this list!
If the price tag is $115 million and the university is giving $26 million for the parking structure portion, does that mean we only need $89 million in private funds?
I agree that the practice facility was the correct first move. It's OK to spoil the athletes with better amenities there. As far as the RAC goes let's face it the RU fan base is TV oriented. The RAC and High Point stadium are noisy and look fine on TV. Seton Hall plays in the Rock which makes Rupp Arena look like a dump but it doesn't make SHU become Kentucky.
This goes both ways. Our recruiting has been terrible. Recruits are not required to say the RAC hurts recruiting for it to be true. Let's not be so high and mighty and I would love to see all those quotes. I admit there have been a random few.
However, I have to call you out. Yes the Build campaign has been the most successful campaign in the history of Rutgers Athletics. The fact that you say that in 2017 after raising $71 million is an embarrassment. The fact that you say that with the low participation levels is an embarrassment. Actually the fact that you say that at all is an embarrassment.
I would hope my alumni brethren have more respect for Rutgers than to make those claims after looking at the facts about participation levels. And lastly, I hope you donate as much as I.
We could do the exact same thing, and it wouldn't stop posters and sports writers from claiming it's still somehow a huge tax burden.
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